Orchestral Arts Africa is being built as a South African, Africa-facing and internationally connected orchestral-arts institution. Its premise is deliberately broader than that of a conventional symphony orchestra.
Orchestral Arts Africa will provide the shared artistic, production and administrative structure, with orchestral forces assembled according to the needs of each project. That flexibility makes it possible to serve opera, ballet, musical theatre, schools, new music, conductor and artist development, film and recording work, digital cultural media and international co-production without forcing every programme into the same ensemble model.
The artistic proposition is equally clear. African identity should be expressed through repertoire, commissioning, language, partnerships and creative authority — not through token additions to inherited programmes. Emerging artists should move toward paid work, credits and professional responsibility. Education should build cultural literacy and audiences, not operate as charity. International exchange should create reciprocal, durable relationships rather than symbolic visibility.
For Unathi Malunga, Orchestral Arts Africa is the institutional expression of artistic leadership: a place where programming, conductor development, commissions, performance, professional pathways and sector-building can be designed as one connected system.
One institution. Several programmes. Shared artistic, production, administrative and financial infrastructure. Each programme with its own partners, budget, impact measures and funding logic.
Orchestral Arts Africa places the orchestra at the centre of a broader artistic ecosystem spanning performance, education, talent development, new music, recording and international exchange.
Programme portfolio
Education & Schools • Opera • Ballet & Dance • Musical Theatre • New Music & Commissions • Emerging Artists & Young Musicians • Conductor Development • Recording, Screen & Digital Media • International Collaboration
Institutional principle
At the heart of Orchestral Arts Africa is the orchestra — not only as a performing ensemble, but as a vehicle for education, artist development, new music, recording and international collaboration.